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Prevent Identity Theft: Protect Your Mail and Packages from Porch Pirates

Prevent Identity Theft: Protect Your Mail and Packages from Porch Pirates

About half of all identity crimes come from low-tech theft — lost or stolen property. If your wallet or purse is stolen in public, you may notice right away. But sometimes, identity theft happens when someone takes mail from your mailbox or steals a package off your porch, using the personal information inside for identity crimes. Stealing mail or packages from a porch are both state and federal crimes. First-time offenders can face fines and up to a year in jail. Repeat offenders can face up to five years in prison.

To Protect Yourself, Start by Being Careful with Your Mail:

  • Don’t leave incoming or outgoing mail in your mailbox for too long.
  • If you plan to be away for a few days, pause your mail delivery.
  • Don’t place paid bills in your mailbox for pickup; instead, drop them in a U.S. Postal Service box.

You can also reduce your risk of mail theft by opting out of credit offers that come by mail. Thieves can use these applications to apply for credit in your name. To stop these offers, you can either go to the Opt Out Prescreen website or call 888-567-8688. You will need to provide your Social Security number to remove these offers, but it is safe if you’re the one contacting the official service.

See Your Daily Mail Online

The United States Postal Service offers a free tool called Informed Delivery, which lets you digitally preview letter-sized mail that’s on the way and manage incoming packages. After you create an online account and confirm your identity, you can receive daily notices on your phone, tablet, or computer. You can also track packages, leave delivery instructions, and reschedule deliveries.

Guard Against Porch Pirates

Here are some tips for keeping your deliveries safe:

  • Ship to a secure location, such as an Amazon Locker, FedEx Office, or your workplace if allowed.
  • Make sure your porch has good lighting.
  • Make your home look occupied, even when you’re out. Leave lights or music on as a deterrent.
  • Consider adding a motion detector or a porch camera that you can monitor online or that can alert you to any movement.

Taking these steps can help protect your mail and packages, keep your personal information safe and reduce your risk of identity theft.

Report Fraud

If you have a general consumer complaint, you may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team at:

Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form